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Questions to Ask Pharmacy Tech Schools
After you have determined whether you wish to attain a degree or a certificate, and if you prefer to enroll in an online school or go to classes on campus, you can start to narrow your school alternatives. There are numerous pharmacist tech colleges to pick from in the Pacifica CA area and throughout the USA, so you need to develop a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast colleges and trade schools. As we addressed in our introduction, you will undoubtedly initially look for colleges that are within both your financial budget and commuting distance from your Pacifica residence. If you are able to relocate or are going to enroll in an online pharmacy tech school, then location may not be critical. But there are several other factors that you should consider in order to effectively compare colleges. The questions below will help you to gather that information and help you to make your ultimate decision.
Is the Pharmacy Tech Program Accredited? Many pharmacist tech programs and vocational schools have obtained a national or regional accreditation. One of the most highly regarded accrediting agencies is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Colleges earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and certified to provide a comprehensive superior education. Online schools may also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals only with online or distance education. Make sure to verify that the degree or certificate program together with the college you pick are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization. Along with helping make sure that you obtain a superior education, it can assist in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools. Also, certification might mandate that the training program is accredited. And a number of Pacifica CA pharmacies will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.
Does the College Ready You for Certification? Certification is not mandated in every state, but numerous employers prefer that the techs they hire be certified. The pharmacy tech program needs to ready its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA exam. Students planning on obtaining NHA certification will additionally need 1 year of work experience. This condition may be fulfilled by participating in a college sponsored internship program.
Does the College Offer Internship Programs? As we just covered, the NHA requires a year of experience for certification, which may be fulfilled by means of an internship program. Perhaps the best way to get practical clinical experience as a pharmacy tech is to work out in the field. Most pharmacy tech certificate or degree programs also require practical training prior to graduation and an internship is an excellent way to meet the requirement. Ask if the colleges have a working relationship with Pacifica CA area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.
Does the School Provide Job Placement Help? Securing that first position in Pacifica CA after graduation, particularly with no prior experience, can be a difficult undertaking without any help. Find out if the colleges you are considering have job placement programs. If they do, find out what their job placement rates are. A high job placement rate is an indication that the college has an excellent reputation within the profession creating demand for its graduates. It also means that it has a sizable network of employer relationships where it can place graduates.
Where is the School Located? For many students, the school they decide on will need to be within driving distance of their Pacifica CA residence. Students who have decided to attend classes online obviously will not have to trouble themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of importance. One thing to keep in mind is that if you decide to enroll in a college that is out of state or even out of your local area, you might need to pay a higher tuition. State colleges typically charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges typically charge a higher tuition to those students that live outside of their districts.
What are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the kind of person that likes to sit far in the rear of the classroom or hide in the crowd, you will undoubtedly prefer a smaller class size. Smaller classes enable more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the colleges you are reviewing what the typical teacher to student ratio is for their classes. If practical you may prefer to sit in on one or more classes before making your ultimate determination. This will also give you a chance to speak with some of the instructors and students to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacy technician program also.
Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you need to verify that the pharmacy technician program you ultimately pick can furnish the class schedule you need. This is particularly important if you choose to continue working while you attend classes. If you need to schedule evening or weekend classes in the Pacifica CA area, make certain that they are offered. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, check if that is an option and how many credit hours or courses you would need to enroll in. Also, find out what the procedure is for making up any classes that you might miss due to illness, work or family obligations.